Homebush cable project

Ausgrid is laying new 33,000 Volt underground electricity cables between our Homebush substation in Pomeroy Street to the Sydney Trains site in Columbia Lane, to allow for our Strathfield substation to be decommissioned.

Ausgrid’s Strathfield substation, located in Columbia Lane Homebush, is nearing the end of its serviceable life and is planned to be retired from service in 2018.To allow the substation to be retired, Ausgrid needs to transfer the electricity load to other parts of the network. This includes installing a new power supply for the Sydney Trains Strathfield site, which is located next to our Strathfield substation.

Ausgrid is planning to provide this supply by installing new 33,000 Volt underground electricity cables from our nearby Homebush substation in Pomeroy Street to the Sydney Trains site. Once the new cables are installed and the Strathfield substation is retired, Ausgrid plans to retain the site as a storage yard. The existing 132,000 Volt overhead powerlines entering the site will remain in service.

Ausgrid is the approving authority for these works under the NSW Environmental Planning & Assessment Act. As part of the approval process, Ausgrid has conducted environmental assessments for this project, including the preparation of specialist studies and considering relevant input from the community, councils and other authorities.

Ausgrid has been consulting with Council and other stakeholders since 2015. The first community newsletter introduced local residents and businesses to the project in March 2016 and feedback was sought on the cable route.

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback as part of the project planning process. Ausgrid’s cable route has been planned with consideration of Council and community feedback.

Ausgrid will continue to engage with the community living or working near the route as the project progresses.

Ausgrid plans its infrastructure in line with relevant environmental and health standards for the protection of both the environment and the community.This includes designing and operating the new cables to minimise electric and magnetic fields and managing issues such as noise, dust and vibration during construction.

The majority of the cable route is through local reserves. As each section of work is completed in these areas, the trenches will be backfilled and resurfaced.

Following trenching and cable installation in roads, a temporary surface would be laid over the trench so that the road can return to normal use. The temporary road surface remains in place until the cables have been pulled through the conduits (pipes) and tested.

The excavated sections are then reinstated permanently in consultation with the relevant road authority. Ausgrid will generally restore the trench area plus 300 milimetres either side, however each section is assessed on a case by case basis in consultation with Council.

In line with Council’s future plans for the area, Ausgrid will reinstate the cable route through the reserves with a footpath for local park users.

Ausgrid understands there will be temporary impacts during construction, particularly on residents and businesses living or working close to the route which we will work to minimise. A range of construction impacts may be experienced including noise and dust, and temporary traffic, access and parking disruptions, which we will work to minimise as much as possible.

During construction, the reserves along the route will remain open, including the off-leash dog area in Allen Street Reserve. Access may be temporarily reduced in some areas while we carry out works. In this case, alternative access would be provided.

Ausgrid does not plan to interrupt your power supply during this work.

We continue to welcome your feedback to help Ausgrid and our contractors manage the construction process effectively.

Construction generally will involve:

final site investigations to assess ground conditions and pinpoint existing services such as electricity, gas and water

excavating cable trenches and laying conduits (plastic pipes) to house the cables

directional drilling (bores) may be used at some locations to pass roads, rail and waterways

backfilling trenched areas temporarily

excavating pits approximately every 800 metres where sections of cables would be pulled through and joined together

excavating other associated pits and final reinstatement of affected areas